Registration for 2018 Grand Proclamation and Convocation

I am pleased to advise that the Convocation registration forms for New Plymouth (2-4 March 2018 details are on the website www.royalarch.org.nz ) have now been circulated to all Chapters, Cryptic Councils, Grand Superintendents, PGZ’s and Management Council.

We look forward to seeing you there and particularly the current team from the Central Division and the 3 Grand Sojourners all of whom have a role to play in the ceremony.

A plug also for those in the Central and Northern Division who are qualified – the Order of the Silver Trowel nomination forms have been sent out by R Ill Comp R S Jaray, (Recorder of the Council of the Silver Trowel No 111) to Council Recorders. Please contact him direct.

The overall timetable of events is shown over. Please note that the hotel is prepared to have a lunch available on the Saturday for those who indicate interest on the Friday. It will be a “self-pay” sandwich, rolls style of limited menu.

If you are having problems down loading the registration form from the web site check you have adobe reader – print as a booklet using that function in the print menu. I can email you a A5 version if you need that style.

Alternatively, you can complete the Registration Form on the back page of the invitation booklet and post it with payment if appropriate to The Convocation Registrar, 19 Cruickshank Road, Clouston Park, Upper Hutt 5018. Email: gary@kerkin.co.nz

Additional Registration Forms only (PDF format) may be downloaded Here

Programme and dates and more details below:-

Day/Date

Meeting

Start

Finish

Location

Thursday 1 March 2018

Management Council

12:00

5.00 pm

Governors

Friday 2 March

Grand Principals’ and GP’s Elect

8.30am

9:00am

Garden Court

UGPNZ (Knights Templar)

9.30am

12 noon

De Burgh Adams

Friday 2 March

Grand Superintendents

9.30am

12 noon

Garden Court

Friday 2 March

Royal Arch Forum and Research Chapter

1pm

3.00pm

Hobson Room

Friday 2 March

Order of the Silver Trowel

3pm

4.45 pm

De Burgh Adams

Friday 2 March

Convocation Meet ‘n’ Greet

6.00pm

8.30pm

Foyer Lounge and Garden

Saturday 3 March

Ladies’ Tour

8.30am

12 noon

Departs Devon Hotel

Saturday 3 March

Business Session

9.00am

11.00am

Hobson Room

Installation Rehearsal

11.15am

12.30pm

Grand Auditorium

Installation/Proclamation

2.00pm

4.30pm

Grand Auditorium

Banquet

7.00pm

11.30pm

Grand Auditorium

Sunday 4 March

Bus Trip (Pukekura Park)

9.30am

12.00pm

Departs Devon Hotel

All events except those shown at the De Burgh Adams Lodge rooms will be held at the Devon Hotel in New Plymouth, Taranaki over Friday 2nd to Sunday 4th March 2018. https://www.devonhotel.co.nz/

Timaru Royal Arch Chapter No 15 had the pleasure and privilege of a visit by First Grand Principal Brian White at our installation meeting on September 6 at the Ashburton Masonic Centre. He was also accompanied by RE Comp Dennis Gordon, the Third Grand Principal.

The meeting was in Ashburton because of the fire which destroyed our own premises in Timaru in June 2016. Whilst progress is being made towards completion of the reconstruction, we have been told that it will be around December before we can again occupy our own premises (and this cannot come quickly enough!).

ME Comp White applauded the effort being made by Timaru Chapter to maintain its existence and enthusiasm in very trying circumstances, and offered support from Grand Chapter if required.

The depth of experience of the Chapter’s Principals for the year was remarked on during the ceremony: VE Comp Ted Butler generously offered to do a third term as First Principal (for which dispensation was granted); RE Comp Jock Jellyman agreed to be Second Principal and RE Comp Eion Miller is our Third Principal – all in all, a very experienced trio of Principals.

To add further lustre to the evening, ME Comp White presented RE Comp Miller was presented with his 40 Years’ Service Award with the customary congratulations, to which Eion responded with his own modest thanks.

After the Kawatiri Royal Arch Installation meeting in Westport (we had gone out for a meal at the Buller Club, so obviously it was informal). To put names to faces from left to right: Sue Plummer, Max Currie and Pat, Diane Moses and Rhys, Chris, and Brian White, Gwen and Bob Cresswell, Ian Plummer. It was good to be able conduct the ceremony of Installation with MEComp Brian White First Grand Principal in attendance. Further to that we performed a Royal Arch Degree Ceremony on the Friday night (members of the Marlborough and Victory Chapters assisting), so felt that we had been able to provide tangible support to the Chapter. It was a great weekend and the weather was beautiful.

Mindful of the breadth of the six recognised degrees in Freemasonry, we had the very special privilege of being shown a Royal Arch feature in Edinburgh.

At the lodgerooms where we attended the Services Lodge meeting, which date back a couple of hundred years, we were led to a small round room with a domed ceiling, with walls beautifully ornate with scenes from the Royal Arch. A central altar brought focus to the room.

The attached photos explain more eloquently the beauty of the area. The Deputy Grand Master and I were delighted to discover this treasure and it will form an important part of our travels.

This anniversary was held over the 8th and 9th of September 2017 with the formal activities taking place in the Freemasons Hall in George Street Edinburgh.

The welcome on Friday night was fairly accurately described by John Kernohan in his report. As Graeme Pengelly, his wife Ruth, my sister Alison and I have contacts with members of the Scottish Constitution, both formal and social, in New Zealand, Perth WA, Malaysia and Scotland, the welcome included renewing friendships with friends from all those places as well as from India, Finland, Ireland as well as other places attending. Such is the international make up of Masonry.

The formal meeting, unlike similar ones in New Zealand, was a member’s only meeting and all visiting delegations were formally welcomed in turn by the First Grand Principal ME Companion Ian Fraser. All the overseas districts of the Scottish Constitution were well represented and New South Wales and Victoria has large delegations.

New Zealand with three members was warmly welcomed as coming the greatest distance and renewing the friendships made with the Scottish Constitution other parts of the world.

The ceremony was a rededication of Grand Chapter a ceremony carried out flawlessly by the Grand Team and really kept the attention of all those attending.

While the ceremony was on the Ladies as guests of Grand Chapter were taken by bus to the Falkirk Wheel. This can be described as a ‘Ferris wheel’ type of arrangement where canal boats are lifted or lowered alleviating the need for nine canal locks. (https://www.scottishcanals.co.uk/falkirk-wheel/ )

After the Masonic Ceremony we joined the ladies on the many buses for a 15 minute trip to the Corn Exchange, which in days gone by was exactly that but is now a large function venue. There around 450 people sat down to a fine banquet and delicious food. To give an idea of the size of the venue, with tables for that number of guests there was still room for a huge dance floor. During the meal there was time for musical interludes, speeches and toasts. The First Grand Principal gave a substantial donation to the Alzheimer’s Foundation as this was Grand Chapter’s 200th Anniversary project.

All in all, a good weekend with the only thing I would have done differently would have been to mix the people up at the banquet rather than having each delegation sitting at the same tables.

Bruce Hebbard, PGZ

At the celebrations M E Companions Hebbard and Pengelly presented the Grand Chapter of Scotland with a Quaich suitably inscribed for the occasion.

The inscription reads; Presented to SGRACS on the occasion of their Bi-centenary September 2017 by SGRACNZ.

Scottish Hospitality

Quite by chance my wife Cynthia and I were holidaying in Edinburgh at the time of the Scottish Royal Arch Bicentenary. Our holiday arrangements allowed me to attend the formal Ceremony on the Saturday and my wife could accompany me to the “Complimentary ” dinner extended to the overseas visitors on the Friday evening.

On arrival at the magnificent Freemasons Hall we passed a refreshment bar in the lobby and were served with suitable drinks. We found seating near the stage where the principal guests would be seated. The hall was set up with long tables. I think 400 or more would be seated. We were joined by 5 companions from the Caribbean. We introduced ourselves and a lively conversation ensued. One of Indian descent and four of Afro! Opposite me an Accountant (my profession) opposite Cynthia a four-time married man who Cynthia assured me was still attractive! The Companion on Cynthia’s right was full of information about all of them. An excellent chicken dinner was served. I ordered a Merlot, the man opposite ordered three double Scotch’s.

I murmured that I might like one. Make it four he quickly said, and so it was! How they managed such individual steward service for such a large number was amazing particularly as my new friend repeated his order several times and with a quick glance across the table would say “and one for him!”

The chicken portions were generous and one man offered another a piece of his chicken which was accepted. Cynthia then offered him a piece of hers which was declined. I said, “she is offering it to the highest bidder” Gales of laughter all round!

We did of course listen to the speeches of welcome. A pleasant lemon sorbet concluded our meal. It was a memorable evening for Cynthia and myself made possible by the very generous arrangements of the Scottish Royal Arch and enhanced by the table company of our Royal Arch Companions from the Bahamas.

Our First Grand Principal MEComp Brian White with our Grand Master MWBro Mark Winger at the recent Auckland Royal Arch Reception and Mark Winger wearing the Royal Arch tie presented to him on that occasion. It all goes to show the ties that bind.

At the close of September meeting of Aurora Royal Arch Chapter, VEComp Tom Norris was presented with a First Grand Principals Award (much to his surprise) by MEComp Geoff Davies PGZ, assisted by REComp Ken Burt G Supt.

The award was for his contribution to Aurora Chapter in particular and the assistance given to other chapters over the last 40 years. Tom has been the Chapters Treasurer for many years as well as being responsible for the setup and care of the Chapters assets. Nothing has been a problem.

Tom was supported by his wife Margaret, who assisted by keeping things hushed up.

As one might expect Tom was almost speechless when it came time for him to say a few words, particularly when he found that Margaret was in the Chapter, right behind him.

The United Grand Lodge of Victoria and the Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Victoria are holding their Grand Installation and Grand Convocation on the same weekend from 6-8th April 2018 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Our First Grand Principal MEComp Brian White is going. As is our Grand Master Mark Winger.

]]>http://freemasonsnz.org/sranz/2017/09/18/grand-convocation-and-grand-installation-in-victoria-2018/feed/05 Year Bars to top up 40 Year Jewels at Carlylehttp://freemasonsnz.org/sranz/2017/08/31/5-year-bars-to-top-up-40-year-jewels/
http://freemasonsnz.org/sranz/2017/08/31/5-year-bars-to-top-up-40-year-jewels/#respondThu, 31 Aug 2017 22:10:00 +0000http://freemasonsnz.org/sranz/?p=1085 […]]]>5 Year Bars to top up 40 Year Jewels at Carlyle

A Grand Chapter Team attended the regular meeting of Carlyle Chapter No 74 at Patea in Taranaki on Wednesday evening where MEComp Brian White, GZ presented a fifth 5 year bar to REComp Bill Hone, PDGZ (yes that’s 65 years membership of Royal Arch) and a second 5 year bar to REComp Alan Davies, PDGZ.

VEComp Stan Foote presented a very interesting talk on the Royal Arch jewel at the meeting – based on some original researches he had done and illustrated by drawings of all aspects of the jewel.

There was a great supporting team from Wanganui Chapter No 23 there also including MEComp Rod Biel who is now resident in Marton.

After a very enjoyable evening REComp Ken McQueen, GH then drove us (White/Hart/Gregory) back to the Devon Hotel – a long day driving of over 8 hours on the road for him.